Vehicle body



Aug. 22, 1944. c. SCHULZ ET'AL VEHICLE BODY Filed May 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 m N w im Wm W2 7 .6 $4 2 2 m .5

Aug. 22, 1944.

c. SCHULZ ET AL VEHICLE BODY Filed May 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 22, 1944. c. SCHULZ E'i' A1 VEHICLE BODY Filed May 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 22, 1944. c. scHuLz ET AL VEHICLE BODY Filed May 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 VIII . Gan/B40 Sch 042 Tam a-72x5 5y worrze g.

Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE BODY Conrad Schulz, Berlin-Spandau, and Karl Tandetzke, Teltow, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application May 5, 1941, Serial No. 391,888 In Germany September 2, 1939 '2 Claims. (Cl. 296-28) into the desired shape out of a large number,

of layers of saturated materials in suitable forms, mostly steel molds. The finished parts are usually interconnected by glue, bolts or rivets. For this purpose, the edges of these body parts are provided with connecting flanges adapted to receive the bolts or other connecting means and extending at right angles to the surfacesof the body parts. These flanges are pressed together with other portions of the body parts, and in order. that the flanges and the portions adjacent thereto should be sufl'iciently strong and resistant to bending forces, strengthening ribs are provided in zones of greater stress.

"In comparison with all other portions of an automobile body part, which are fairly thin, the connecting flanges and the strengthening ribs present a considerable accumulation of material. The hardening time of the pressing in the mold and, consequently, the output of the latter, are determined by the thickest cross-section of the pressing, so that the flanges and ribs make it necessary to increase the time of pressing automobile body parts to a considerable extent.

Furthermore, the connecting flanges makethe pressing process much more difficult than it would be otherwise; often the paper or textile bands cannot extend through the entire body part, so that additional tablets of the material must be compressed at places where the connecting flanges are to be formed. In many instances the flanges and ribs harden in a difierent manner than a thin wall hardens. that a body part is produced the strength of which is different'at different places.

A further drawback of these connecting means consists in that in case of an accident, when the interconnected portions are subjected to an excessive strain, the flanges can easily tear off, since their cross-sectional areas are weakened by holes provided therein for screws and bolts, so that their resistance against bending forces is All this resultsin.

quite weak. The flanges can be easily strained above the elasticity limit of the material, and then breakage results.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of prior'art constructions and to provide an automobile body various parts of which, consisting of laminated materials saturated with artificial resin, can be easily and quickly pressed and assembled without the use of thick and heavy flanges. 7

Another object is the provision of novel, simple and efiectively operating connecting means for the various parts of an automobile body.

A further object is to provide connecting means for automobile body parts which will make it possible to manufacture comparatively thin body 7 parts of great strength, said parts consisting of layers of continuously extending impregnated bands. g

A still further object is the provision of comparatively thin automobile body parts of great elasticity and strength and small weight, which can be easily and conveniently connected with each other, and when so connected, will constitute an automobile body of great strength and resistance against shocks.

An additional object of the present invention is to facilitate the manufacture of pressed automobile body parts and to make this manufacture economical by eliminating inconveniently thick cross-sectional areas of such body parts.

A further object is to simplify and expedite to the greatest possible extent the assembly of parts constituting an automobile body.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide automobile body parts all the portions of which are alike in texture and wall thickness and have the same arrangement of 1ayers,,so that each body part is of comparatively uniform strength throughout the various portions thereof, and so that all portions or zones of a bodypart may be subjected to a uniform strain. j

Other objects of the present invention will becom apparent in the course of the following specification. I

In realizing the objects of the present invention, it was found advisable to strengthen from the inside the zones of greatest stress of the body parts, consisting of pressed synthetic resin saturated material, through the provision of profiled metal bars interconnected to form a continuous supporting structure. This structure may be provided with clamping devices which are preferably bent over the edges of the various body parts and which unite them into an assembled body. Conslightly thicker than all the other portions of:

the body parts. i

In accordance with another preferred embodiand show in section differently constructed side posts.

The automobile body shown in Figures 1 to of the drawings constitutes a self-supporting body consisting of a plurality of interconnected parts, which are pressed individually of laminated materials impregnated with artificial resin and which are interconnected by metal framework.

This metal framework is formed of box-like section supports consisting of pressed interconnected sheet bars. The supports are all connected with each other and constitute a skeleton ment of the inventive idea, the metal bars are coated with artificial resin, in order that the properties of the two substances may advantageously supplement each other, particularly as far as firmness is concerned. Since steel and artificial resin have different coeflicients of expansion, the steel bar maybe covered with an aluminum bar by a rolling process in such manner that the two metals can move relatively to each other during heat expansion. Aluminum hasthe same coefficient of expansion as artificial resin and serves, therefore, as; a carrier'for the artificial resin mass which, preferably, is carried by laminated fillers. Obviously, the steel inserts may beeliminated entirely and the frame structure may consist of hardaluminumbars.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing, by way ofexample, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automob le body constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section along the line 22 of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale, and shows the connection of the windshield frame to the roof and front part of the automobile body.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure'l and shows means supporting the side edge ofthe roof.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 44 of Figure 1 and shows the windshield frame support, the door and the side wall of the automobile body. I i

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and illustrates the connection of the side wall to the automobile floor.

Figure 6 is a perspective view'of an automobile body of a somewhat different form.

Figure 7 is a section along the line 1-! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section along the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a section along theline 99 of Figure 6. a

Figure 10 is a section along the line lt-JS of Figure 6.

Figure 1 1 is a side view of a different automobile body.

Figure 12 is a section along the line 12-52 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a section along the line i3-i3 of Figure 11.

Figure '14 is a section along the line of Figure 11.

Figures 15, 16.and 17 are similar to Figure 12 framework.

Thedrawings show a roof i5 having the form 'of a tub and pressed of one piece from the impregnated material. The lower connecting edge of the roof [5 is provided with an outer beadlike flange [6 (Fig. 2) which extends around the roof. The flange l6 which is thicker than the other portions of the roof I5, is integral with these portions and is formed during the same pressing operation during which these portions are formed. The flange it may be formed of strips of impregnated materialappliedto the roof part prior to the pressing operation, and pulverized artificial resin binders may be added to thatcase, it is not necessary to add any addithe-roof material before the pressing takes place.

.Another method of manufacturing the thick flange I 6 consists in applying less pressure to the edge than to other portions of the roof part. In

tional materials to the roof part, and the-greater thickness of theflange Hi is produced merely by subjecting the flange to a smaller force duringthe compression.

Since the strips which are saturated with artificial resin and which constitute the lamnated part extend to the lower edge of the roof part, aroofis produced after the compression, which is of substantially thesame firmness in all its portions.

The roof I5 is connected with the other parts of the automobile body by means of a connecting. flange ll of the roof support I8. In the construction shown in Figure 2, the roof support of sectionsheets-which are welded together. One

of these sheets is provided with a U-shaped extension constituting the connecting flange H, which receives the flange 15 of the roof l5.

In accordance with the present invention, the flange I! is bent over the thick flange l6 of the roof, so that a close and firm connection is attained. In mass production, the bending over of. the flange I6 is preferably. carried out by intermittent blows exerted by. compressed air hammers;

If necessary, suitable sealing means, such as a thin layerof rubber may be inserted between the two flanges.

The. windshield glass I9 is enclosed on all sides by a profiled rubber frame 20. The upper horizontal edge of the frame 20 is held firmly between the adjacent forwardly projecting edge of the roof (Fig. 2) and a ledge 2| which is attached to the frame I 8.

The forward part or cowl 22 of the automobile body, which is situated below the windshield I 9, is connected to a box-like transverse support, 23., This support is composed of two Ueshaped pressed sheets, the legs of which are welded to each other at their contacting surfaces.

The legs 24 and 25 which are situated directly below the windshield I9, are so formed that the free edge of the leg 24 constitutes a flange 26 which is bent over the thick flange or edge 21 of the forward body part 22, while the member 25 also serves as a support for the instrument board 28,'which may be connected by' screws thereto.

The roof I is attached'to the sides of the automobile body and to its rear in a substantially similar manner. The support 23 may connect the cowl 22 with the roof I5. As shown in Figure '3, each side of the roof is supported by a flange 29 which is bent over the flange or edge I6 of the roof I5. The flange 29 constitutes a part of the longitudinal beam 36 of the automobile roof.

The side window 3| of the automobile is held in an elastic frame 32 the upper horizontal part of which is held between the beam 36 and a ledge 33. A reinforcing member 34 projects into thebeam 36 and is used for holding the inner roof covering 35.

The manner in which the windshield post 36 is constructed and supported is shown in Figure 4. The post 36 consists of a pressing which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and which is open toward the interior of the body. The two legs of the U have free ends constituting flanges or thick edges 3'! and 38.

A connecting flange'39 constituting a part of a supporting bar 46, encloses the flange 31 of the post 36. The other end of the bar 46'projects into the rubber frame 26 and has the form of a flange 4| embracing the edge 38 of the post 36.

The bar 46 can have'any desired form, par

ticularly as far as its cross-section is concerned, and also serves as a support for the door packing 42. r

The door 43 of'the automobile body carries a frame 44 for the door window 45. The frame 44 engages the elastic member 42 when the door is closed.

The end 56 of the automobile side wall 46' inwardly to a slight extent to constitute an abut ment for the adjacent end of the door. The end 56 is strengthened by a somewhat thickened edge'or. flange 48 which extends vertically and constitutes an outwardly projecting element. A connecting flange. 49 constituting a part of the metallic post 41 is bent around the projecting flange 48.

The metallic post 41 which has the form of a box in cross section, is so formed that it provides a tight fit in relation to the end 56 of the sidewall 46.

Figure 5 shows the manner in which the side wall 46 is attached to the floor of the automobile body. The floor is carried by longitudinal side supports 5| which have the form of a box in cross-section. Each support 5| is formed of a sheet 52 which is bent in the form of a step and a sheet 53 which is inclined downwardly and which is connected with a vertical sheet 54, whereby a quadrilateral body is formed. 7

The lower edge of the sheet 53 is bent to form a flange 55 which receives the beaded edge or flange 56 of the side wall 46. The flange 55 is bent around the edge 56.

The automobile body shown in Figures 6 to of the drawings is substantially similar to the one described. I 1

This body includes a roof 66, windshield posts 6|, a front part or cowl 62, side walls 63, and

doors 64.- The frame which carries the windshield I6, is made of rubber and its upper portion is supported by a bar 66 which is triangular in cross-section, as shown in Figure 7. A ledge 61 is attached to the bar 66, one end of which rain-collecting gutter and may be enclosed by a flange I6 of the longitudinal support I1.

As in the previously described construction, the windshield post 6| is connected with a metallic support I8 and its edges I9 and 86 are held by flanges 8| and 82 of the support I8 (Fig. 9). The support "I8 also carries a packing 83 for the door 64. The door 64 carries a frame 84 for the door window 85.

As shown in Figure 9, the side wall 63 of this construction is straight and its edge 86 is enclosed by a flange8I of the post 88.

As shown in Figure 10, the longitudinal floor support 89 is triangular in form and constitutes a closed body, the flange 96 of which is bent around the lower edge 9| of the side wall 63.

The automobile body shown in Figures 11 to 14 includesa cowl IN, a rear part I62, two side parts 63, twoside posts I64 and a' roof I65 (Fig. 11). The roof is pressed as a single body and its front constitutes the upper edge of the windshield frame, while its rear is mounted directly upon the rear part I62.

These body parts constitute a rigid body structureiand at those zones where they are subjected tothe greatest possible strain, they are strengthened by a simple metallic framework similar to a bridge structure. The metal frame includes two longitudinal supports I66 each of which extends upon one side of the vehicle body close to a side edge of the roof. The front portions of the sup ports I66 may serve as posts for the windshield frame, while the rear ends of the supports extend to the floor of the'vehicle and may be used for strengthening the fenders and seat supports.

However, the main purpose of the supports I66 is to strengthen "the edges of the roof I65, so that thereof, along with the cowl I6I- and the'rear .post 62 constitutes a firm base of the body structure.

The longitudinal supports are. connected with each other by transverse struts I61 and I68. The strut I61 extends along the front edge of the roof and carries profiled flanges which maybe connected with a rubber ffame carrying the windshield glass I56. The transverse strut I68, which .may be dispensed with entirely, constitutes, preferably, a continuation of the side posts I64. V

Due to the provision of side posts I64 cooperating with the edges of the roof I 65, which are strengthened by the longitudinal supports I66, the walls of the side parts I63 extend only as far as the side Windows II6. This makes it possible to eliminate large press molds which were used heretofore for the pressing of side parts 'which iormedby two; profile bars or struts I09 and H having bent'portions III and H2 which clamp the edge II3 of the side part I03. The edge ,II3 is bent inwardly in relation to the side wall I03 and is of the same thickness. preferably used for, holding or tightening the edge M3,. Thus the side part I03 is held firmly by thezpostjM. I s

Obviously, for the screws II4 may be substituted rivets or the like.

; The side post I04 is shaped to. constitute an abutment for the adjacentiend of the door II5. However, the post I04 may carry hinges for the door I I5. I Figure 13 shows theshape of the side post I04 abovetheside part,l03. The edges I II and H2,

of the profiled struts I09 and I I9 are firmly connected with each other., The abutting flanges H6 which form the second connection between the struts I 09 and I I9 are located substantially in the middle of the'post I04 above the side part I03, so that these flanges can be used for holding the rubber frame II'I of the side window H8. The outer surfaces of the post I04 extending above the side part I03 may be provided with a coating I I9 consisting of materials impregnated with artificial resin.

The coating I I9 may be applied directly upon the post- I04 or, if the edges III and H2 are of a somewhat different form, only the strut IIO of the post I04 may be provided with the coating H9.

The shape of a longitudinal support I and itsconnection with a side edge of the roof I05 are'shown in Figure 14. The support I06 has the form of a sector in cross section and consists of a curved bar I28 and a supporting bar I29 provided with a flanged edge I3I.

The edge I3I is firmly connected with an edge of the curved bar I28. Another edge of the bar I 29 consists of an upwardly turned outwardly projecting flange I32 which constitutes a rain gutter.

The roof I05 is provided with a downwardly projecting portion I33. The surfaces of the edge of' the roof I05 and of the projection I33 enclose a space I34. The support I29 is slightly bent downwardly close to the space I34. Due to this arrangement, rain is prevented from penetrating into the interior of the structure, so that the inner portions of the support I96 are protected against rust.

The support. I03 is connected with the roof I05 by screws I35 extending close to the space I34.

The bar I28 has a'downwardly and outwardly projecting edge I36 which is used for holding a rubber packing I31 for the door window.

An edge of the support I29 may be bent in a similar manner for holding another rubber packing for the side window H0. Figure 14 also shows the connection of a side post I04 with the edge of the roof I05. This attachment is carried out by means of flanges I38 constituting a bent portion of the struts I09 and H0 of which the post I 04 is composed. The flanges I38 are welded to the support I29 on the one hand, and on the other hand, they are connected to the roof I 05 by the screws I35. A flange of the support I06 may be bent outwardly at the place wherein the body parts I 05 and I03 are in engagement with each other so that this flange can embrace an edge of the body part I03, thereby interconnecting the body parts I03 and I05.

The described metal supports increase the strength of the automobile body to a great extent,

Screws I I4 are while the body parts may be made quite thin. This diminishes the weight of the body and the time required for the hardening of the body parts.

Figure 15 shows a side post 209 of a different and somewhat simpler form, cooperatingwith a door 2I5. The post 209 consists of a single profiled rod which is connected with a side wall 203 having a bent edge 2I3, by means of a bent insert or flange 220 and screws 2I4'. In order to strengthen the post 209, its interior is covered by a, layer 22I consisting of artificial resin ma-v terials. V

Obviously; the same coating may be provided upon the outer surfaces of the post 209' as well.

Figure 16 shows a side post 304, the outer surfaces of which, situated within the door frame, carry a layer of artificial resin.

The post 304 includes astrut 309 made of a steel sheet and connected with an aluminum strut 39I, the purpose of which is to provide a good support for the artificial resin layer 322. The struts 309 and 39I may be rolled together in the cold state, or they may be connected with each other by rivets or by the bending of their edges. If rivets are used, the rivet holes must be sufficiently large to enable a shifting of the struts 309 and 39I relatively to each other.

The second strut 3I0 constituting a part of the post 304 is similar to the strut III) of Figure 12, but is provided with an outwardly bent flange 32!. The side wall 303 of the automobile body is provided with a bent portion 3I3 which is clamped between the flange 32I and a flange 3 of the strut309 by bolts 34I.

In the construction shown in Figure 1'7,'the side post 404'consists of a single bent metal sheet 423 having outwardly projecting edgesr424 constituting an abutment for the door M5 and carrying a door packing 425. A coating 426 consisting of laminated materials impregnated with artificial resin is used to hold. the packing 425. In this construction, the side wall 403 of the automobile body is attached to the side post 404 by means of'a connecting flangej030.

The post 404 may be made wider-above the flange 430, i. e. above the lower edge of the window, and may occupy the space enclosed. by'th broken line 421.

If the connection between the wall 403 and the post 404 is carried out by means of the bent'edge 4I3, instead of the flange 430, then the entire post 404 from top to bottom should have the shape indicated by the line 421 and should be made similar to the post I04, shown .in Figure 12. It is apparent that the speoific'illustrations shown above have been given byway of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All of such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle body, comprising a plurality of separate parts, each of said parts consisting of fibrous materials impregnated with artificial resin, a frame structure connected with said body parts and comprising a plurality of steel bars and aluminum bars covering said steel bars, and layers of fibrous material impregnated with artificial resin and covering some of the surfaces of said aluminum bars.

2. A vehicle body comprising a plurality of separate parts, each. of said parts consisting of fibrous materials impregnated with artificial resin, a frame structure connected with said body difierent coefficients of expansion, and layers of fibrous materials impregnated with artificial resin and extending through at least one support of a pair.

CONRAD SCHULZ. KARL TANDETZKE. 

